The hundred officials of Wenhuamen asked Lichu to save Yang Ho from the predicament of North Korea

In February of the 26th year of Wanli, Emperor Wanli issued an edict to increase the number of troops in North Korea and reinforce, Xing Jue returned to China first and presided over the recruitment of elite soldiers in various provinces with the Ministry of War, and used the sea route to transport troops as a lasting plan. Before leaving, Xing Jue ordered Ma Gui to command the whole army to raid and harass various places and seize the Japanese strongholds. The Ming army waged more than 20 large and small battles in Shaancheon, Samjia, Juchang, Sanin, Xianyang, Jangsu, Yongyong, Chohyeon, Gwangyang, Jukdo, Maoju and other places, and the Japanese army was forced to abandon large areas of Jeolla Province and Gyeongsang Province.

The emperor's eldest son, Zhu Changluo, is 16 years old, and when Zhu Changluo finished studying, Liu Yuening, a lecturer, boasted: "Although the emperor's eldest son came out of the cabinet late, he is fortunate to be gifted and intelligent, and this classic article has been able to read by heart, which is really gratifying." Zhu Changluo said: "The master has won the award, I am still very reckless, and I have not been able to memorize it like a stream, I know it by heart, and I ask the master to take more responsibility." ”

Liu Yuening said with a smile: "Listening to what the emperor's eldest son said, there are witty words, how can you be reckless? In the end, it is the descendant of the heavenly family, and in just time, there will be extraordinary achievements. This book is full of ways to govern the country, the way to do things, to learn from history to know the rise and fall, to learn from people to know the gains and losses, the world often read a lot of books in their lives, but still full of mistakes and omissions, and even more for their own selfish interests unscrupulous means to endanger one party. There are many articles on the avenue, and when it comes to self-interest, scholars who can forget their lives abound. ”

Zhu Changluo said again: "In the left biography, it is said that people who have no faults can change after passing by, and they are very good." Yan Zi said in the Spring and Autumn Period that a wise man must make a mistake in a thousand thoughts; A fool must have a thousand thoughts, and he needs to constantly reflect and learn, and there are always ministers around his father who are constantly advising him to assist his father in governing the world, isn't it? ”

Liu Yuening was overjoyed: "The emperor's eldest son's words are really overjoyed, what the emperor's eldest son said is very reasonable, and he will be looked up to by the subjects of the world after coming to Japan." Before the words fell, Emperor Wanli suddenly appeared and said: "Who will look up to the subjects of the world?" Could it be that I have been spurned by the people of the world? Liu Yuening, the lecturer, was frightened and fell to the ground to plead guilty.

Emperor Wanli asked Zhu Changluo: "The bloodline of the Son of Heaven, the eldest son of the royal family, why is he so frivolous and arrogant!" If you want to become a prince, you need to be tempered for a long time, otherwise you will endanger the people of the world and endanger the society of the country. Zhu Changluo was at a loss when he heard this, and Emperor Wanli asked the court officials to quote scriptures, and the quarrels were difficult to stop, how to deal with them properly? Zhu Changluo didn't know. Emperor Wanli asked again, every time the drought and flood disaster people are all over the wilderness, there is no harvest, and the plague is rampant, how to help and restore livelihoods? Zhu Changluo didn't know. Emperor Wanli also asked the expedition Quartet to dispatch troops and generals, how to distinguish the military situation and raise food and salary? Zhu Changluo didn't know.

Emperor Wanli immediately reproached: "As the eldest son of the emperor, you should be concerned about state affairs, so as to share worries for the king." In the past few years, there have been many events in the world that is your opportunity to accumulate knowledge, but I can just ask you a few random questions and be speechless, familiar with the articles and complacent, so you still want to be the prince? Zhu Changluo was saddened by this, and Emperor Wanli immediately ordered Zhu Changluo to retire and be grounded for a month.

Seeing this, Liu Yuening persuaded: "The minister has a word to ask the emperor for forgiveness, the emperor's eldest son is still young, the emperor is wise and powerful, and he is confident in handling state affairs, and the minister knows that the emperor is also sincere to the emperor's eldest son, and hopes that it will be completed as soon as possible, but these are still too early for the emperor's eldest son, please don't blame the emperor." ”

Emperor Wanli angrily reprimanded him for talking about the country, tempted the prince, and immediately dismissed the official and expelled him from the palace. Zhu Changluo almost couldn't continue to study, and Emperor Wanli was very fond of Zheng Guifei and the third son of the emperor Zhu Changxun is well known, and now the lecturer has been expelled, and the eldest son of the emperor is grounded, so it is rumored that Zhu Changluo, the eldest son of the emperor, will not be allowed to be canonized, and the third son Zhu Changxun will be canonized. The hundred officials in Beijing were greatly panicked, and spontaneously ran to tell each other, and jointly signed to advise, and then asked for the position of the emperor's eldest son. At the end of March, Jiuqing, Kedao, Governor's Mansion and other yamen had their own sparse Wenhua Gate, and they were waiting for the order, and they were determined to retreat, and the hundreds of officials of the imperial court collectively forced the palace.

Zhao Zhigao, the first assistant of the cabinet, was therefore anxious to see Wanli, and the Wanli Emperor sat in the palace with great majesty, and the celebrant and the brocade guard were on the side. When Wanli saw Zhao Zhigao coming, he asked: "I have already felt it, and it seems that I am a little too tolerant of the hundred officials. I am willing to be a benevolent, filial and virtuous gentleman, and I am willing to be an example for the Son of Heaven and the world, and I am unwilling to force the suppression, so that the blood of the courtiers will be splashed on the palace gate, but no one can understand the heart of the monarch's father. Zhao Ge Lao, as the first assistant, you came to tell me, what is the crime of spreading rumors, inciting the forced palace, and tarnishing the holy name? What should I do with it? ”

Zhao Zhigao said: "Your Majesty, the two cabinet ministers Zhang Wei and Shen Cheng and the officials of various ministries are appeasing the ministers, but they can only appease them for a while. The emperor has his own clear judgment on the matter of the country, but so far, the old ministers have fallen into chaos for some reason, and the monarchs and ministers have almost turned against each other. Although the courtiers spoke excessively and behaved out of shape, their loyalty could distinguish that they had no other thoughts, and they were nothing more than to obey the law of etiquette and be loyal to the king. With all due respect, the canonization of the eldest son of the emperor seems to have become the consensus of all officials in the imperial court, and if it is ignored or even forced, the minister is worried that it will tarnish the holy name and the world will not be at peace. The old minister did not hesitate to die in order to maintain the holy virtue, no matter how the emperor decided to come to the day, today he also asked for forgiveness of the emperor's eldest son's mistakes and comforted the ministers. ”

Jin Yiwei commanded Li Ruzhen, the commander, and said: "This matter is not once or twice, the emperor is merciful, but the hundred officials have repeatedly taken the opportunity to make trouble, regardless of the courtesy of the ministers, if they are not punished, will they not come to force them in the future, where is the authority of the Son of Heaven?" Chen Ju objected: "The emperor has also punished before, but it is not the case today." The emperor is a benevolent lord, how can he wantonly insult hundreds of officials, and he should deal with it safely. ”

The celebrant Yin Tianyi immediately asked: "To maintain the rule of the monarch and the ministers, let alone hurt the holy name, Zhao Ge Lao, you are the head of the court, what is your way to do both?" Before Zhao Zhigao could speak, Jin Yiwei commanded his fellow acquaintance Li Ruzhen to immediately ask Emperor Wanli for advice: "This matter is caused by rumors, so we should first refute the rumors and appease the ministers to show our grace." Then reprimanded the courtiers for listening to rumors and gave them a warning. And the rumor-mongers should not be tolerated, and the emperor is asked to order Jinyi Wei to strictly investigate where the rumors started and go to prison to ask for guilt. ”

At this time, Zhang Wei entered the hall and said: "The emperor's old minister has a word, and I just heard Jinyiwei's words to appease, reprimand, and strictly investigate. Lao Chen believes that Jinyiwei also needs to be supervised, and it is not disloyal to hundreds of officials, if Jinyiwei is allowed to act, it is difficult to ensure that it will be implicated and widely cause turmoil in the court and discredit the emperor's holy name. ”

Li Ruzhen was furious: "Elder Zhang Ge, what you said is a bit insinuating, Jinyi Wei is the pro-army of the Son of Heaven, and his every move is in accordance with the holy will of the Son of Heaven, how can you become a traitor in your mouth, where is the evidence!" As a cabinet minister, what is the purpose of slandering in front of the emperor! ”

Zhang Wei replied: "The emperor is naturally supported by the world, but Jinyiwei is not, the world can see why I need to say more, you Li Ruzhen, Ha is really very different from your father and brother, there are a lot of impeachment books for you, and the old minister also has a copy, I only advise you to do it yourself in the future and not to live up to the emperor's kindness." Your Majesty, the old minister asked for this time to appease and refute the rumors and track down the rumors, and asked the cabinet ministers to supervise the impeachment, so the cabinet ministers and Jinyiwei will be able to work together to properly settle the matter. Li Ruzhen hated Zhang Wei deeply.

Emperor Wanli thought it was feasible and ordered Zhang Wei and Li Ruzhen to retire. Emperor Wanli said to Zhao Zhigao: "Previously, regarding the crimes of Yang Hao, Zhang Wei, and Shen Yiyi, the elder of the pavilion has read it. I advise me to focus on the overall situation, right? Zhao Zhigao replied: "Zhang Wei and Shen have always been deceived by Yang Hao, and they have made big mistakes and regret it, and they are always ready to make up for their mistakes." Zhang Wei and Shen have always been confused for a while and promised to draft the holy decree, and Yang Hao is also recommended by Shen Zheng, Yang Hao and the cabinet ministers are too deeply implicated, and now they are strictly investigating and questioning the crime, and the cabinet ministers should also be jointly and severally responsible. In the eventful year, the old minister had the courage to implore the emperor to suspend the punishment, punish them separately and allow the cabinet to make meritorious contributions to the crime, and make up for the merits, and the old minister will also strictly supervise and urge the cabinet to be cautious at all times and no longer embarrass the emperor. ”

Emperor Wanli said: "What the elder said is deeply meaningful, Zhang Wei and Shen have always reprimanded him, and allowed him to be retained. As for Yang Hao's capital crime, he can be exempted, but he can no longer hold the post of manager, and he will be dismissed from office and recalled to Jingshi, waiting for the guilt to be discussed. Zhao Zhigao knelt down to thank the saint. Later, Jin Yiwei followed Zhao Zhigao to issue an edict to the hundred officials to refute the rumors and reprimanded the crime of believing rumors, and the hundred officials dispersed.

Because of the cabinet first assistant Zhao Zhigao on the intercession, Emperor Wanli exempted Yang Hao from the death penalty, in May recalled Yang Hao to return to Beijing to wait for the crime, and in the reinforcements, in addition to a large number of Liaodong army, Chen Lan led the troops of Liangguang, Liu Wei led the troops of Sichuan, Deng Zilong led the soldiers of Jiangsu and Zhejiang and Dong Yiyuan and other provinces led the elite soldiers to North Korea one after another, the governor Xing Jue in addition to supervising the grain transportation, in the Dengliao Sea Road to receive reinforcements, and ordered the coastal provinces to introduce nearly 60,000 reinforcements into Korea in batches through the waterway to meet with Magui, rest and prepare for war, at this time the strength of the Ming army has increased to 110,000 people.

Yang Hao was recalled by the Ming Dynasty to discuss the crime, and the king of Joseon, Li Hao, was very surprised by this, and hurriedly asked why? Li Hengfu replied: "The minister has understood that it was Ding Yingtai, the director of the Ming Army's praise painting, who impeached Yang Hao to His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty and deceived the monarch, so he was recalled for the crime. Li Hao asked again: "According to what Yang Hao said, this battle has already dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese invaders, but the enemy has many reinforcements and retreats first, how can it be defeated?" Li Dexin said: "Even so, Yang Hao failed to capture the city, so it cannot be regarded as a great victory. And from the standpoint of the thieves defending the city, the thieves were a great victory. Yang Ho's retribution will naturally be a crime of deception. ”

Li Hao was helpless: "No matter whether he wins or loses, at least Yang Hao has never had the idea of peace, always imagines the restoration of North Korea, and never hesitates to kill the enemy." If Yang Hao hadn't tried his best when the Japanese invaded Wang Jing, how could Wang Jing be impregnable? I am afraid that it has already been fallen by the Japanese invaders, and it is difficult for the widow to know life and death. In case the new appointee has the slightest idea of peace, I really don't know when the rebellion will be quelled. ”

Ito Shoujin said: "The minister is also worried, and now we urgently need to preside over military affairs by not compromising with the Japanese to fight to the end. Although there is Governor Xing Jue still there, but it is difficult to inquire about military affairs in detail, Ding Yingtai, the acting manager, does not care about the Japanese rebellion, and in the impeachment of Yang Hao, he actually said that there is no need to increase the number of soldiers, there is no need to increase the transportation of grain, and all kinds of behaviors are delaying the war, His Royal Highness might as well send an envoy to intercede for Yang Hao. ”

Li Hao thought it was feasible and wanted to ask Liu Chenglong, the leader of the council, to take this position, but Liu Chenglong was unwilling. Liu Zu reprimanded angrily: "What does this mean?!" Does the leader mean that he doesn't need to come with the strategy of fighting with the Japanese invaders?! Zuo Yizheng Jin Yingnan also said: "I also know that the leader and Yang Hao are not in harmony, but now is not the time to care about personal grievances." Yang Ho is a very rare person for us, and we should rescue North Korea and continue to fight against the Japanese invaders. ”

Liu Chenglong replied: "Your Highness Mingjian, the minister is dissatisfied with Yang Hao, but it is by no means unwilling to act as a concert envoy because of this. The confrontation between Yang Hao and Ding Yingtai is not just the confrontation between the two, but the confrontation between the main war faction and the anti-war faction in the Ming Dynasty. Ding Yingtai is afraid that Yang Hao will be completely eliminated on the grounds of this battle, and if Yang Hao is publicly rescued at this time, Ding Yingtai and his forces in the Ming Dynasty will definitely attack us. In Yichen's opinion, Yang Hao can no longer be rescued, and it is a wise choice to persuade him to fight the Japanese when the new Jingluo arrives. Li Yuanyi also agreed.

Yi Doo Shou asked rhetorically: "As the prime minister said, if Yang Ho is allowed to be cleared by Ding Yingtai, then the Ming Dynasty will obviously send someone opposite Yang Hao to serve as the governor, and this person will come to negotiate peace." Liu Chenglong retorted: "Shi Xing, the secretary of the military department, and Shen Weijing, the envoy who had previously advocated peace, have been severely punished by His Majesty the Emperor, and Song Yingchang, who was the manager at the time, was also dismissed. His Majesty the Emperor has issued a decree strictly not to make peace with the Japanese Kou, so how could he send a strategy to advocate peace. Don't worry. ”

Li Hao said: "His Majesty the Emperor often ignores the government and politics, it is well known, how to ensure that the new governor does not meet and make peace? Or obey the order of the widow to form a mission to enter Beijing. Liu Chenglong no longer argued, only insisted that he would never serve as a concert envoy, and asked Li Hao to change to someone else. As soon as this remark came out, the courtiers were shocked, and the Northerners Party and the Westerners Party accused Liu Chenglong of being rude, and Li Hao changed color and forcibly fled with anger.

After the dispersal of the dynasty, Li Yuanyi, Li Dexin and Li Hengfu, a westerner, persuaded Liu Chenglong not to disobey the king's order so much, Liu Chenglong said: "You really don't know my mind? North Korea has fallen into a party struggle and is unable to extricate itself, how can it be caught in the whirlpool of court struggle in the Ming Dynasty in order to save Yang Hao! We must not meddle in this matter. ”

And Yoo Zu also strongly advised Yi Doosu and Kim Yingnan to punish Yoo Sung-chan for disobedience as severely as he punished Yi Sunsin. Kim Ying-nam is worried that Yoo Jack-chan's arrogant behavior has angered the king, and the future will be unpredictable, and Idoushou is also very puzzled by this. Liu Zuxu asked Li Erzhan to visit Li Shanhai again, and when Li Shanhai saw Li Erzhan coming, he asked why he was bored with himself again?

Li Erzhan pleaded guilty: "I was a villain with shallow knowledge before, thanks to your teachings, I must reflect on myself." I beg your pardon. Li Shanhai asked if the king was angry, and Liu Zu replied: "Yes, my lord, His Royal Highness's anger was about to erupt, and it was really incomprehensible that the leader said a word at that time, how could he humiliate His Royal Highness the Lord so much?" I really don't know whether to live or die, and in the end, it was Li Yuanyi, the left minister, who replaced the prime minister as the envoy. ”

Li Shanhai said: "I have also heard a lot about the situation in the Ming Dynasty, and there is actually no problem with the consideration of the prime minister, so what are the strategies you said to make the prime minister retreat?" Li Erzhan replied: "How about impeaching the prime minister who insists on not wanting to defend Yang Ho for the sake of making peace with the Japanese Emperor?" Li Shanhai thought about it again and again and thought it was feasible.

Therefore, the northerners, led by Liu Zuxuan and Li Erzhan, fully mobilized the Confucian scholars of Sungkyunkwan and Taiwanese officials to kneel outside the palace gate to petition, requesting the removal of Liu Chenglong, claiming that Liu Chenglong's reluctance to serve as the envoy to welcome Yang Ho's return was to secretly negotiate peace with Japan, and since he took office as the leader of the council, he has been stubborn, implemented the cool law to damage the foundation of North Korea, plunged the people into chaos, and then transferred his resentment to seek fame and fortune. His various acts are unworthy of being a minister, and he strongly requests to be recalled.

The momentum of the dismissal of Liu Chenglong instigated by the northerners is increasing, Li Dexin and Li Hengfu repeatedly persuade Liu Chenglong to defend, Liu Chenglong deeply feels that it is not easy to get out of danger this time, Li Hengfu persuaded: "Now the northerners hate to put you to death, if you do nothing, it will be irreparable." My lord, you always say that you want to overcome the national disaster and rebuild the mountains and rivers, how can you be willing to be framed by the villain and withdraw from the court with stigma. Seeing that Liu Chenglong was silent, Li Dexin suggested that he and his father-in-law Li Shanhai meet as soon as possible, be honest with each other, and end this senseless fight.

Liu Chenglong therefore visited Li Shanhai late at night, the two played chess and said something, Li Shanhai saw that Liu Chenglong's move was excellent, so he boasted: "This step of leading the prime minister is really exquisite, I almost lost the whole game." The strength and luck of the prime minister have always been strong, and the battle of Jishan is also the same, and Yi Sunsin, who no one is expecting, has won a big victory in Mingliang. Liu Chenglong believes that this is not his own luck but the blessing of the national fortune, Li Shanhai laughed and said that the national fortune has rescued the prime minister in danger many times. Liu Chenglong bluntly asked Li Shanhai not to cause bloodshed and party strife, Li Shanhai said with a smile: "Why did the prime minister say this, the affairs of the government and politics are in the hands of the prime minister, how can I be asked by the prime minister as an idle old man?" Did the prime minister misunderstand the old man? ”

Liu Chenglong said: "I am sincere and sincere, my lord, I promised before that as long as the war is over, no matter who stops me, I will leave the court without hesitation and never come back." So until the war is over, please stop the fighting. Don't let the northerners have nothing to do anymore. Li Shanhai asked rhetorically: "Does the prime minister mean that I will be desperate to set off a party struggle in order to hold on to power?" ”

Liu Chenglong said: "Didn't you come back just to become a blade in the hands of His Royal Highness?" For me and those who are with me, my lord, the war is not over, and you know that I am not a repentant, and I ask you to help me until the war is over. ”

Li Shanhai put down the chess pieces in his hand and said seriously: "This matter is not for me to decide, the old man is just a chess piece, where it should be, when to use it and when to abandon it, how to choose is not up to me." It depends on where His Highness puts me in order to decide whether you live or die. Even if I don't be that pawn, there will be another person in my place, and there will always be someone to take on this mission for His Highness the Lord. And I want to be a pawn too, don't you understand? I am willing to be a pawn of His Royal Highness in order to prevent civil strife in the court after the war. His Royal Highness is already preparing for the future, and the old man has already made it very clear, so I will not send it far. Liu Chenglong took his leave.

Shi Ding Yingtai also went up to impeach Korea for collaborating with the enemy, pointing out that the Joseon conspiracy to lure the Japanese to invade the Celestial Empire, seize the east of the Liao River, and restore the old land of Goryeo. And the North Korean book "Haedong Chronicle" as evidence to list the sins of North Korea, one of which is that he has long been a traffic thief, dedicated to the mutual market, and conspired to recruit the Japanese to recover the land, but he was attacked by himself.

The second is the Japanese era name in the big book and the Ming Dynasty era name in the "Haidong Chronicle", which respects Japan and does not serve Zhengshuo; The third is to claim the ancestor in a blasphemy, not to be submissive, to insult the emperor, and to despise China. It is also pointed out that in the preface to the preface of the book "The Chronicles of Haidong", Shen Shuzhou criticized Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Han Guangwu and Shi Jingjiao, which shows that the contempt of Korea has not been for a long time. Li Dexin told Li Hao about this one by one, Li Hao was furious, and Li Dexin hurriedly said: "As expected, since we defended Yang Hao, Ding Yingtai repeatedly made false accusations to His Majesty the Emperor. Now it is extremely unfavorable to North Korea, Your Highness, Liu Chenglong is a wise prime minister, we have to hurry up and prepare a defense now, please Your Highness do not abandon Liu Chenglong. Li Hao was helpless.